Mersea to Italy. A War Office photo from Italy of Mrs Moira Cockerill of West Mersea, who is now serving as a Red Cross Welfare Officer there. Mrs Cockerill, who is second daughter of Mr H.J. Winch of Empress Avenue, was formerly a keen worker at Mersea First Aid Post, and married Chief Officer Cockerill, of the Merchant Navy. Three years ago her husband lost his life on the second occasion of being torpedoed in the Atlantic, and Mrs Cockerill volunteered for overseas service. Her sister Miss Betty Winch, who also held the position of ambulance officer at the First Aid Post, is now also serving overseas - a fine record for this post and its Commandant, Miss Freda Brooks.

From Essex County Standard

Mersea Woman Helps Wounded in Italy
...
Mrs Cockerill is a war widow. Married in 1938, her husband was then Chief Officer in the New Zealand Shipping Company and therefore an officer of the Merchant Navy.

"In November 1941, he was on a new ship making her maiden voyage in the Atlantic. There was one SOS, then she disappeared. Nothing more has been heard of her. I have been told there were no survivors," she said.
[ mv NOTTINGHAM was sunk 7 November 1941 with the loss of all 62 on board. ]